Days in Genova, Nights in Portorosso

Chapter 2

Five years later; Giulia- 11, Max- 12

The years went on, and as nice as Mom was, she still didn't allow me to go to Portorosso. They say with fiery red hair comes a fiery temper---and boy were they right.

"I'm sorry, Max. But I need at least one of you to stay home in Genova with me," she said. "Someday you'll understand."

"If you love me so much, you'd let me go along with your own daughter!" I shouted. "But it's because I'm just your neice. Is that true?"

"No, not at all, piccoletta," Mom said. "I want to have someone I love near me at all times so I don't feel lonely."

"You all say that," I said. "I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I can't be your perfect angel like Giulia. I'm sorry that you never let me see my real uncle. And I long for you to tell me what happened to my mom!"

Mom sighed. "Maybe when you're a bit older," she said.

"But I'm twelve! Clearly that's old enough, right?" I said.

"Talk to me about it when you're sixteen, piccoletta," she told me. "Right now you have another summer to live with me."

Oh, I will get on that train to Portorosso. If I have to swim across the ocean to get there unnoticed, I surely will! , I thought.